No, monkeypox is unrelated to shingles/chickenpox. Despite the dual confusing names (chickenpox/varicella zoster) shingles is not an orthopoxvirus, but a herpe

No, monkeypox is unrelated to shingles/chickenpox. Despite the dual confusing names (chickenpox/varicella zoster) shingles is not an orthopoxvirus, but a herpesvirus. The herpesviruses do tend to cause chronic dormant infection which can reactivate. Monkeypox isn't new. There have been hundreds of human infections since the 1950s before this recent outbreak, and it is closely related (enough for complete-cross immunity) to the other orthopoxes, which are some of the most studied viruses ever. So we know a fair bit. Pox viruses do not cause a chronic and permanent infection. A person usually either recovers and becomes immune, or dies.